By Morenike Tony-Esan
The Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Oyo State Assembly, Dr Olufunke Olajide says, every Nigerian should strive for a community where girls can thrive without fear of being mutilated.
Dr Olajide stated this in Ibadan at a news conference commemorating the 2026 International Day of Zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation,FGM.
She explained that FGM posed a great threat to the girl child with its immediate and long-term complications including;
psychosocial, emotional, unhealthy and imbalance among other challenges.
Dr Olajide explained that the House of Assembly would ensure across administrations, the implementation of policies that would drive progress towards the sustainance of 2030 zero tolerance for FGM.
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kehinde Ayinde observed that any act embedded in religion and tradition was always difficult to eradicate.
Representative of the Oyo state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Biodun Olaikomo emphasized the need for the media to create more awareness on ending FGM, calling on desk officers to be present in every local government where victims could report to.
In an address of welcome, the Executive Director, Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health, Professor Oladosu,Ojengbed, noted that the promise to end female Genital Mutilation stood at a decisive moment as the world approaches 2030.
